Sir Michael Caine, the British legend of Hollywood, has had a successful career that has spanned over 165 films and two Oscars. However, Caine says that he did not know Christmas until the age of 6, as he grew up in a working-class family with limited financial means. Caine recalls standing in line at the employment office with his friend, the late Sean Connery, and states that anyone who has experienced financial hardship understands the value of money.
Caine, who just celebrated his 90th birthday, believes in fate and God. He regards his life as a gift from God, thanking him for every day. Caine’s fitness secret is maintaining his garden, which is 30,000 square meters in Surrey. He also follows a strict regimen of 10 miracle pills per day and wearing an Apple Watch that alerts him to take breaks from sitting.
Recently, Caine sold his 200-year-old cottage near London and auctioned off his Rolex and Chagall collection. He now splits his time between his sunny home in Miami and his penthouse over the Thames in London.
Caine did not come from a privileged background. His father fished and they did not have their own toilet. He got his start in the theater industry through an advertisement for stage hands. During the Korean War, he even served as a machine gunner, but it was his role in The Ipcress that brought him a break-out role in Hollywood. The film was a spy thriller from the 007 producer with an anti-James Bond twist, and Caine’s performance as a hobby cook and bourgeois spy resonated with audiences.
Caine’s romantic life has also been eventful; he met his wife, Shakira Caine, through a TV commercial and fell in love with her on the spot. They have been married for 52 years, and Caine credits her with saving him from a 2 bottle-a-day vodka habit.
Caine’s accomplishments have not gone unnoticed by royalty; Queen Elizabeth II knighted him, and at dinner, she asked if he knew any new jokes. He jokingly replied that he did, but he could not tell her any of them.
In his later years, Caine became the philosopher of Hollywood, offering advice such as, “Less is more,” “Find a job you love and do it to the best of your ability,” and “If you’re going through hell, just keep going.” He encourages people to seek what they love and to follow their dreams without hesitation.
Caine’s favorite holiday is Christmas, and he remains an optimist who looks back with joy and forward with hope. His message to everyone is to have no fear and to jump into life every day.
